by Jean Huets
Because the princess expresses herself in action rather than words, she is a silent type. Her nature tends to draw secrets from people. In friendship, she is a reliable confidante; otherwise, she is an excellent spy or agent provocateur.
Meanings - Skill. Practical abilities. Observant. Powerful. Serious. Vigilance. Agility. Spying. A discreet person. An active youth. A person adept at perceiving, discerning, and uncovering the unknown or that which is less than obvious. Insight. Severity. Aggressiveness. An imposter revealed.
Prince of Swords
A young man is in a lush landscape. A book and a sword, together with a lily, are before him. On his lapel is the sigil for air; on his cravat is the sigil for the astrological sign Aquarius. A hawk is behind his right shoulder.
The princess of swords was a woman of few words; the prince is "by the book." His philosophy has been worked out and formulated in elaborate terms, always subject to refinement and revision. He has his—and your—utopia all planned out. The thick book, however, cannot contain all his ideas. He is ready to talk to whomever will listen, perhaps beyond the limits of most people's endurance.
The expression of the prince is mild, but he is not an armchair philosopher. The sword is prominent. The prince's idealism can carry him into fanaticism, and conversion by the sword may seem to him the most expedient way to save the world.
Not all missionaries are bigoted, however, and the prince can be a true ambassador of good will. He genuinely enjoys sharing ideas and mingling with people of different cultures and kinds. The purpose of his travels will be to teach, rather than to convert; and to learn and absorb new outlooks, rather than to suppress others. He will be at home in multicultural institutes and ecumenical religious gatherings.
Though acting isn't necessarily a profession to which he would gravitate, the prince loves theatricality and eccentricity; he may have an unusual circle of friends. His noncomformist outlook can make him a true advocate of people who are alienated from the mainstream of society. Open-mindedness and an innate wish to help others give him the potential to be a valuable mental health worker, if he can learn to be more of a listener and less of a talker.
Unlike the Scorpian prince of cups, the prince of swords tends to love the world, rather than to focus on individuals. This makes him an ideal partner for free-spirited types who are normally suffocated in monogamous relationships. An excellent companion to cerebral people, he is stimulating intellectually, with the ability to make abstractions come alive. Ideas and more ideas flow from him; to expect realism and carefully laid plans is to miss a wonderful opportunity to explore new regions of the mind and the imagination.
To more down-to-earth people, the prince's carefully worked out and dazzlingly innovative philosophy may seem rather like a grab-bag of half-baked eccentricities. If there is a New Age type, it is the Aquarian prince of swords.
Meanings - Bravery. Agility. Cleverness. Swiftness. Foresight. Loyalty. Courage. Skill. Capacity. The strength and dash of a young man. Impetuous rush into the unknown without fear. Daring. Belligerent. Imprudence. Impulsive mistakes. Bigotry.
Queen of Swords
A mature woman sits in a rich chamber, a sword in hand. A dove is in front of her. In the background is the couple from VI The Lovers. On the corners of the woman's cape are the sigils for the astrological sign Gemini and the element of water. At the top of her throne is the sigil for Mercury, ruler of Gemini. The eyes of the queen are her most outstanding feature: discerning, intelligent, not piercing but nevertheless intense.
Mercury was messenger to the Roman gods, and so Gemini (and Virgo, also ruled by Mercury) oversees writers, publishing and the printing industry, and communications. The medium of electricity is mercurial.
Like electrical current, the queen's mind moves quickly. What she says will be right to the point; aphorisms are more to her taste than philosophies. She may be an essayist or columnist; journalism that focuses on current issues is her forte. She delights in verbal sparring; some may find her argumentative. The satisfaction of producing a witticism means more to the queen of swords than having an idea adopted.
Her interest in the water element indicates her realization that simple emotional gratification can go further with people than the most profound inspiration. The volatile, quick-tongued Cyrano de Bergerac demonstrates the Gemini temperament (augmented by an uncharacteristic fidelity), as does the loquacious, madcap Mercutio of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
The lovers in the background reflect the queen's role as a messenger, a medium that makes relationships possible. She may not be interested in maintaining a longterm relationship herself, but she loves matchmaking. She can be a delightful ally in a romantic intrigue; she may be a busybody.
The lovers can also be an image of happy days gone by. Sometimes the queen of swords signifies a person in mourning. The queen of swords could be someone whose responsibilities bar her or him from the garden of youth, someone who is temporarily separated from loved ones, or someone in exile.
The symbol of Gemini is twins, a dualism underlined by the presence of the Lovers. Gemini can run two operations simultaneously. The armed "peacekeeper" is one of the paradoxes of her realm.
Gemini rules the hands, and given the connection with electricity, the queen of swords loves gadgets, especially electronics and computers. Her mate, the Libran king of swords, and son, the Aquarian prince of swords, can have the software. The queen will tinker with the hardware. Space travel and all agencies connected with it are ruled by Gemini.
Meanings - Concentration. Severity. Grace. Attentiveness. Repartee. Quick wits. Intensely perceptive person. A subtle person. Mourning. Exile. Privation. Absence. Cunning. Cruelty. Narrow-mindedness. Maliciousness.
King of Swords
A man stands with sword and falcon in a temperate landscape. The sigil of Libra, which is ruled by Venus, is on his shirt. The king of swords, like the prince of swords, does not gaze directly toward the viewer. His eyes are lifted to the distance. His falcon, however, looks directly out, fully aware.
The king of swords rules through his intellect more than through physical might or emotional manipulation. He is keenly intelligent and can think quickly. Innate chivalry, dedication to his group, and mental prowess make him a good military commander, especially in a tactical capacity. He will competently organize a plan, and a group of people to execute it.
His interests tend to shift quickly, and he is better at planning than following through. He can be a dilettante. His Venusian brother, the Taurean prince of pentacles, is the one for the longterm effort. The king's flitting attention is a paradox to his elephantine memory. He may avoid making enemies, but he can hold grudges against friends for a long, long time.
The king's devotion to mental activity often obscures other areas of his life. Ignoring emotions or physical desire doesn't make them go away, and the king may find that his loftiest ideas are actually the means to emotional or physical gratification. He is perceptive enough, usually, to catch himself; the slight uncertainty in his expression reveals that he never ceases reviewing his own motives or the motives of others.
The king's intuition is keen and his analyses are apt, and he knows it. If he happens to be wrong, his friends will find it very difficult to persuade him to see his error.
A harmonious society, a harmonious relationship is the chief desire of Libra. The distant gaze of the king reflects a wish for happiness beyond personal fulfillment. Venus rules him; love is the key to his great society.
The king of swords indicates a person who works ceaselessly for harmony, or at least an appearance of harmony. He is a good leader in a situation that requires a consensus. This is the diplomat, the emissary, the one who smooths ruffled feathers. In a family, the king of swords is the one who holds the group together—the matriarch or patriarch of the clan or the child who takes on the role of peacemaker.
Meanings - Power. Daring. Authoritativeness. Sharp wits. Superiority. Reserved nature. Experienced pers
on. Command of a situation. A professional. Highly analytical person. Justness. A person having many ideas, thoughts and designs. Stubbornness. Tyranny. A person who may pursue a matter to ruin. Sadism.
Suit of Pentacles
Ace of Pentacles
A disk on which a pentacle is engraved stands among rocks on a plain. Crystals and bricks of gold are in front of it.
Earth, element of the suit of pentacles, is the seat of worldly wealth. Our food comes from the earth; gems and precious metals are mined from the depths. Although water dominates our bodies, we tend to think of ourselves as earthy. Symbolically, the element of earth is dense and heavy, retentive, and slow to change.
The ace of pentacles represents our material lives. The five points of the pentacle on the disk symbolize the five senses, the means by which we perceive and receive the world. The pentacle is the gateway to sensuous bliss and to an abyss of soul-deadening materialism. The disk itself is like a coin; physical sustenance must be paid for, with money and/or work. The crystals, harvested from the earth, are healing stones as well as prisms of that most elusive thing: light. The gold bricks pave the way to material comfort and generosity, as well as inspiring greed, stinginess, and jealousy.
The sense-driven body is often seen as an obstacle to spiritual realization, but our body is our vehicle, by grace or karma. Our senses can tune in the divine through incense, song, chanting, images of saints and deities, calligraphy, nature, the light around each other, and dance. The power of the physical dimension calls for discipline or, for many, denial.
Meanings - Wealth. Fertility. Dowry. Perfection. Personal talent. Personal task. Attainment. Prosperity. Felicity. Bliss. Gold. Treasures. Waste. Corruption by money. Miserliness. Greed. Fool's gold.
Two of Pentacles
A youth dances barefoot in the sand, celebrating life. A boat with a yin-yang symbol on its sail is in the water behind the boy. A serpent is at his feet.
The snake has appeared in cultures as a symbol of evil and temptation, as well as of wisdom. Jesus said, "Be wise as serpents, and gentle as doves"; the devil took the guise of a serpent when he tempted Eve to eat of the Tree of Knowledge. Nagas, supernatural snakes, guard wisdom teachings in Asia; dragons, giant fire-breathing snakes, hoard huge Nordic stashes of gold, vaporizing anyone who takes even a penny's worth.
These myths from different ends of the earth have in common the earth-dwelling snake as guardian of a treasure, spiritual or material, that can be won only by a virtuous and gifted person, one who is able to share with the community the riches gained.
The form of the boy's dance is echoed by the two pentacles on the dancer's shirt. Give and take, yin and yang, we share in dancing, in giving gifts, in teaching, in serving others, whether they are human, plant, or animal, in all sorts of ways that are, fortunately, accessible to all of us.
The two of coins brings opportunities for complementary opposites to meet: teacher with student, healer with diseased, parent with child, woman with man, need with income, patron with artist, boredom with exciting changes. Possibly, there will be a conflict of interests, causing some embarrassment and the need to reshuffle priorities.
Meanings - Changes. Attraction of opposites. Harmonious change. Cheerfulness. New complications. Excitement. News. Message or letter. Difficulty in launching new projects. Embarrassment. Contradictory changes. Contradictory tasks.
Three of Pentacles
Three men work on a stone building. A large window is designed with three pentacles. In the foreground is a blueprint and a compass.
If the two of pentacles brings about meetings of complementary types, the three of pentacles shows the housing of these meetings. It is like the first house of a couple, the work commissioned from an artist by a patron, the launch of a business by investor and manager. The plans have been made; now they are being carried out.
The initial stage is crucial to the ultimate outcome of any venture, be it romantic, artistic, or monetary. If the foundations are weak, if the materials used are shoddy, if the craftsmanship is poor, the entire edifice will be weakened and will not last long. If the foundations are sound, the materials carefully chosen, and the craftsmanship meticulous, the result will be pleasing and durable.
Obstacles may arise, but concerted effort can overcome them. It is vital at this point that everyone involved, from the janitor to the chairman of the board, from the apprentice to the journeyman, is concerned with the work, not only for its fruit, but for the process itself.
Meanings - Work. Material foundation. Effort. Reputation. Perseverance. Great skill in trade or work. Mastery. Perfection. Renown. Obstinacy. Fame. Narrow-mindedness. Weakness. Sloppiness. Mediocrity. Money problems. Commonplace ideas. Preoccupation.
Four of Pentacles
A man sits in an easy chair. On the pocket of his jacket is a symbol of the sun. Behind him are books, a priceless vase, a telephone, and a tapestry. The tapestry is decorated with four pentacles and a sigil of the astrological sign Capricorn. In the background is a country mansion and a limousine. A woman stands before the man; she seems to be a petitioner.
The expression of the man is somber, but he relishes his prosperity. His intentions toward the woman may be beneficent, nevertheless his attitude is patronizing. He might be the Important Executive, always busy, always preoccupied. This type makes clear to all who approach—including spouse and children—that only with great effort and generosity is he able to tear a bit of time from Important Business. Though wealthy, he is a miser; he has many "practical" reasons for not giving. He feels that he has a right to hang on to every penny of the money he has earned.
Alternatively, the man portrayed might represent a wealthy person whose generosity makes him vulnerable to solicitations. His generosity is measured and does not impinge on his personal wealth, but he is aware of the good he can do with his money. The four of pentacles can symbolize institutions, grants, trusts, scholarships, and foundations established by philanthropists.
The four of pentacles represents the accretion of wealth over time, through hard work and discipline. The wealth is usually material, but can also be in the form of power and influence. A tendency to hoard struggles against a basic sense of noblesse oblige.
Meanings - Power. Legacy. Gift. Great talent. Love of wealth. Wish to provide for others. Generosity. Application for a grant or scholarship. Hoarder. Usurer. Skinflint. Inability to share. Clinging to property. Avarice. Obstacles. Pride. Setbacks in business. Spendthrift.
Five of Pentacles
Five bundled-up people walk through the rubble of war. The person with the basket is grimly intent on salvaging what can be saved from the ruins. The person behind, in the center, wears blankets in a form that is almost like a shell or an Egyptian mummy case. The figures in the background wander about empty-handed. The foremost one has an enigmatic expression; a smile touches the mouth, in spite of the surrounding devastation.
People react in different ways when confronted with ruin. Some get to work and try to make something of the wreckage, even if that thing is a poor shadow of what has been destroyed. Some retreat into their shells and wait with the thin hope that a savior will appear or that the situation will improve simply with the passage of time. Some give up and leave the situation entirely: rejecting responsibility or cutting losses. Sudden loss stuns many, rendering them unable to act, unable to make decisions, unable even to comprehend what has happened, how it came about.
The five of pentacles points to a situation that has deteriorated to the point of utter collapse. An immense effort must be made to start anew. It is counterproductive to beat oneself up for failing; reassessing possibilities and formulating a plan will bring recovery. Possibly, one will be called on to help someone who is down and out, whether or not one feels this person deserves help. Volunteer work might provide valuable contacts and a much-needed boost to self-esteem.
Meanings - Worry. Torture. Chaos. Poverty. Effort. Tension. Need. Loss. Failure. Error. Idleness. Immorality. B
elief in the future. Reconciliation. Sharing one's last dime.
Six of Pentacles
A man embraces six pentacles by the light of the crescent moon. He stands on a peak; in the distance are mountains and a lake.
Success is described in terms of heights and peaks and high points. The balance of the pentacles that arch over the moon indicates stability beyond change, beyond the phases of increase and decrease that are like the waxing and waning moon. The man is in the right place at the right time, and he is making the most of it.
The six of pentacles indicates having the means to be generous. This does not necessarily mean material wealth; generosity comes from the heart, not from the pocketbook. It is time to enjoy giving gifts and to share the fruits of hard work. Opportunities fall into one's hands like ripe plums.
Meanings - Success. Stability. Right timing. Scholarship or grant approved. Kindness. Generosity. Philanthropy. Charity. Gifts. Indulgence. Desire. Envy. Jealousy.
Seven of Pentacles
A man walks disconsolately through a region of distress. Broken and buried pentacles mean lost fortunes or inaccessible wealth. Vultures are perched on a tree in the background.
The seven of pentacles warns of a downturn in fortune. Hard work seems futile; setbacks come one after another; creditors are closing in like vultures. Possibly, circumstances have worked against us: we were laid off, the rent was raised, unexpected medical or legal expenses snatched savings away. Possibly, the trouble is due to mindless spending, lack of planning, and unrealistic, impulsive investments.